Young Victoria

'Young Victoria', based on my book Becoming Queen, was filmed during the summer of 2008 in various locations, including Kensington Palace, Westminster Abbey, Amorbach Palace, Norris Castle in the Isle of Wight and Victoria's childhood home in Sidmouth.

For more and a clip of the film, click here 

The film was shown on 18 October 2008 and repeated on 18 April 2009. It was pick of the weekend in the Guardian, Observer, Times, Daily Telegraph, Independent, Sunday Telegraph, Mail, Radio Times and Financial Times and reviewed by Andrew Billen in the Times as 'excellent' and Sam Wollaston in the Guardian as 'telly history at its best'. It received 2.2 million viewers and has been shown around the world.

'This superb examination of the Queen's tortuous early life reveals much about the monarch, but is also a great showcase for historian presenter Kate Williams', Radio Times
 
'Telly history at its best' , Guardian. read...
 
'An absorbing documentary....Williams uncovers a passionate, vibrant young girl who brought Britain into the modern age. Williams also reveals the hidden story of why England's ruling classes were in turmoil, how Victoria's unhappy childhood forged her will of steel and how, through bitter battles with her mother, Victoria revived the unpopular monarchy', Daily Telegraph 

'Detailing the increasingly bitter power struggle between the young princess and her ambitious mother....the launch-pad for the presenting career of the telegenic historian Kate Williams', Financial Times

Here's a rarity: a history documentary with sparing use of reconstructions. The reason for this radical departure is presumably because of its presenter, Kate Williams...An expressive storyteller..her enthusiasm is not misplaced, as the story of Victoria's young life under the control of her vile and manipulative mother is indeed fascinating and goes a long way to explaining why the 'little mouse' that was Victoria grew up to be such a powerful monarch', Radio Times 

The director was Mike Wadding and the Director of Photography was Paul Lang. Series editor was John Farren.